Watch stem-winding and-setting mechanism



Jan. 13, 1948. J. c. BURGBACHER 2,434,390

7 WATCH STEM WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM FiledApril-24, 1943 2 Shets-She'et 1 Y V INVENTOR 45 'r/I 2\) "'l w r I :I 1 ,r .5 BflCHER 33 BY? 4 WWW- 49 1.9 ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1948.

J. C. BURGBACHER WATCH STEM WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II II mnmm u INVENTOR JOHN C. BURGBHGHER ATTORNEY v Patented Jan. 13, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATCH STEM-WINDING AND serrmo MECHANISM John C. Burgbacher, Bayside, Long Island, N. Y., assignor to Bulova Watch Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 24, 1943, Serial No. 484,359

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in watch constructions and relates particularly to the stem wind and stem set so constructed and arranged as to be readily removable and further in the novel arrangement of bezel and casing in providing a sealed container for a watch movement.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved stem retainer mechanism accessible from the face of a watch for releasing the stem.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a back or case plate cooperating with a bezel tohold a crystal and effect a water-tight seal.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water-tight casing for av watch movement wherein the bezel is readily removable and giving access to means for releasing the stem to render the movement removable from the cover plate.

Another object is to provide a watch casing of simple and effective construction consisting of a minimum number of parts capable of rapid assembly to provide a water-tight enclosure for a movement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a watch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig, 2 is an enlarged view taken on line II--II in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken on line III-III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the stem and holding means taken on line IVIV in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing stem release mechanism in position to release the stem.

Fig, 6 is a view taken on line VIVI in Fi 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but with the release or locking member actuated to release the stem.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a latch for locking the release member.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a flat or leaf spring used to hold the latch from accidental movement, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectionalview of the several watch parts arranged for assembly to provide a watertight casing.

As shown in Fig. 10 the present invention comprises a bezel l5, a crystal l6 preferably of a transparent plastic material, the usual movement H with dial 8 having hour, minute and sweep hands, housing l9 and a stem 20.

The housing I9 is provided with a stem-collar 2| in which a stem is disposed when in position to set or wind the watch. The inner surface of the housing I9 is fashioned to receive the movement l1 and is provided with an annular flange 22 to receive the crystal I6. flange or collar 23, the inner surface of which fits snugly on to the flange 22 to which it may be cemented to provide a water-tight seal. The bezel is so formed as to have a relatively wide collar 24 with its inner surface 25 adapted to fit over the outer surface 26 of housing IS. The fitting of surfaces 25 and 26 are so dimensioned as to provide a waterproof fit. A slot 21 is provided in the flange 24' for the stem collar 2| when the bezel and housing are fitted together.

When the bezel is in place the annular surface 28 slides over the outer surface of the collar 23 of the crystal thus binding the collar 23 tightly against the flange 22 of housing l9. When the parts are in proper relation to provide a watertight casing the curved surface or front of the crystal extends somewhat beyond the surf-ace 28 of the bezel finishing off the appearance of the Watch.

As will be evident from the above described construction the arrangement and assembly of parts provided a water-tight or sealed compartment for the watch movement. Ordinarily when it is necessary to open a watch casing and remove the movement, the stem is released by means accessible through the back of the movement which in the present case would require an opening in the housing l9. As will be evident in accordance with the present invention the housing H! is free from any openings or passages for such purpose.

The face of the dial 8 is, however, provided with a slot 29 (see Fig. 1) giving access to stem release means including a latch arm 3| pivoted at 32. (See Figs. 3 and 5). This latch may be moved by a pointed instrument inserted through a slot 29 and engaging a lip 33. A notch or re.- cess 34 is provided in the housing H! to allow for movement of the latch and a leaf spring 35 is disposed in the notch to normally hold the latch in its latching position. The spring 33 may bedispensed with if desired since the latch when in holding position is frictionally held.

The latch-arm 3| is provided with a notch 33 which engages a pin or stud 31 of a pivoted rocker-arm or setting-lever 38 and the latch 3| bears against the lever 38 holding it to lock thestem from endwise removal as by means to be presently described.

The stem 20 is provided with the usual annular slot 39, between collar 40 and enlarged bearing surface 4| and is provided with an operating head or crown 42. When the stem is in its op.- erative position as shownin Fig. 2 it is held from endwise movement by means of a setting-lever post 43 integral with one end 44 of the setting.- lever 38 thus holding the stem free to rotate to operate the winding or setting mechanism but preventing endwise movement, as when removed from the watch movement.

The crystal has a The setting-lever 38 may perform functions other than lookin the stem as in the present type of watch which embodies means whereby the mechanism may be stopped by a slight outward movement of the stem. This movement causes the opposite end 45 of the lever 38 to engage a control lever 46 which in turn operates other means to stop or start the movement de pending on the actuation of the locking lever. This mechanism is common to this type of watch and need not be further described.

In accordance with the present invention the novel form of setting-lever may be operated either to engage or release the stem. This is accomplished by mounting the setting-lever 38 on the pivot pin 31 which pin is secured in a plate 41 of the movement in a tapped hole 48. The hole or aperture in which the pin 37 is disposed is enlarged at 49 to contain a coil spring 5| which serves to exert tension toward the setting-lever 38 tending to lift it as shown in Fig. 7 and remove the setting lever post 43 from the slot 39 thus releasing the stem for removal. Normally the latch-arm 3| when in position over the locking-lever holds it with the pin 43 in the slot of the stem in opposition to the pressure of the spring 5|.

When a watch of the present construction is assembled the bezel I5 makes water-tight contact with the housing |9 at the same time these two parts clamp the crystal in sealed contact between the surfaces of the bezel and housing. This seal is completed by a resilient packing 52 provided in the crown 42. This packing frictionally engages the outer surface of the stem-collar 2| sealing the passage therethrough against the entrance of moisture.

When it becomes necessary to remove the movement I! the bezel I5 is separated from the housing |9. This leaves the movement in position in the housing. The crystal I6 and reflector is then removed. An instrument is inserted into the notch 29 and the leaf spring 35 is removed. By means of the inserted instrument the lip 33 of the latch is engaged and the latch lifted. When the latch no longer bearsagainst the setting lever 38 the spring 5| urges the setting lever 38 to position to lift the setting lever post 43 from the recess or slot 39. The pin 3'! is loosely fitted through the lever 38 so that the lever has freedom to move while the edge or lip 53 still angages the edge cf the lever 38. As will be noted the pin or post 43 has a rounded end and it is only necessary for the lever 38 to move sufiiciently to lift the post 43 to a position almost clear of the slot 39 to permit the flange 40 to ride over the post which is under the tension of the spring 5|. When the stem is inserted the flange 40 again engages the end of the post 43 and lifts it to fall into position in the slot 39. The latch arm 3| is then moved until notch 36 engages the stud 31, whereby the setting lever 38 is adjusted to dispose the pin 43 in the slot 39.

As mentioned the latch-arm 3| when in its outer position to permit the setting lever to release the stem, still overlaps the edge of the setting-lever. The arm 3| is provided with a beveled surface or lip 53 so as to allow sufficient outward movement of said setting lever until pin 43 clears slot 39 and also to more readily slide over the setting lever when moved back to its normal position. The leaf spring 35 may then be inserted to insure against accidental movement of the latch-arm.

What is claimed is:

1. A watch movement having a winding and setting stem, said stem having an annular slot, a setting-lever, one arm of said setting lever having a post disposed in said slot, a stud extending through said setting-lever and serving as a pivot for said setting-lever, a spring urging said setting-lever to move said post from said slot, a latch member for engaging one end of said stud, said stud serving as a stop for said latch-member when positioned for normally holding said lever with said post in said slot.

2. A watch movement having a winding and setting stem, said stem having an annular slot, a setting-lever, one arm of said setting-lever having a post disposed in said slot, a stud extending through said setting-lever and serving as a pivot for said setting-lever, a spring urging said setting-lever to move said post from said slot, a latch member, a pivot for one end of said latchmember, the other end of said latch-member be ing held in position relative to said lever by engagement with one end of said stud for normally holding said lever with said post in said slot and means accessible from the dial side of said movement for moving said latch to permit said spring to move said setting-lever to lift said post from said slot.

3. A watch movement having a winding and setting stem, said stem having an annular slot, a stud servin as a pivot, a setting-lever, one arm of said lever having a portion disposed in said slot to cause an actuation of said setting-lever upon an endwise movement of said stem, said setting-lever having an aperture to receive said stud, said aperture being of sufficiently greater diameter than the diameter of said stud to permit said setting-lever to tilt, a spring urging said setting-lever to move said post out from said slot to permit the removal of said stem and a latch member for normally holding said setting-lever to position said post in said slot,

4. A watch movement having a winding and setting stem, said stem havingan annular slot, a stud serving as pivot, a setting-lever, one arm of said lever having a portion disposed in said slot to cause an actuation of said settinglever upon an endwise movement of said stem, said setting-lever having an aperture to receive said stud, said aperture being of sufiiciently greater diameter than the diameter of said stud to permit said setting-lever to tilt, a helical spring positioned on said stud urging said setting-lever to move said post out from said slot to permit the removal of said stem and a latch member for normally holding said setting-lever to position said post in said slot.

JOHN C. BURGBACHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Freund May 17, 1921 Putnam Nov. 10, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Number 

